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Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:50:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Sows are highly motivated to build a nest prior to farrowing, but, given the barren environment of farrowing crates, this behaviour is limited and improperly expressed. We aimed to assess the effects of a straw provision in the farrowing crate as environmental enrichment in the prepartum period on: 1) sows' reproductive and behavioural responses before, during and after farrowing, and 2) piglets' performance during lactation. Multiparous sows (N = 32) were assigned according to parity to two enrichment conditions: 1) Control sows, and 2) Straw sows, (N = 16 sows/treatment). In the control treatment, the sows were kept in farrowing crates with no environmental enrichment. In the straw treatment, straw was provided in the farrowing crate by purpose-built boxes attached to the crate bars next to the sows. Straw was provided 24 h prior to the expected due date and removed after farrowing. Sows' behaviours (N = 12 sows/treatment) were recorded uninterruptedly from 12 h prior to farrowing until the 13th day of lactation. Data on reproductive performance (number of liveborn and stillborns, farrowing duration, and births interval) were collected. Five piglets were selected from each sow for assessment of performance and levels of blood lactate. All piglet deaths, as well as their causes, were recorded. Sows from straw treatment exhibited a higher frequency of nest-building behaviour and lower frequency of stereotyped behaviour and sitting posture (P < 0.05). No differences were found in the sows' behaviours during farrowing (P > 0.05). The sows from control treatment exhibited a higher number of posture changes (P = 0.057). The frequency of nursing was higher in the sows that had access to straw (P < 0.05). No differences were observed in reproductive performance (P> 0.05). Providing straw had no effects on performance, lactate levels, or postnatal mortality of piglets (P > 0.05). Providing nesting material in the farrowing crate improves the welfare of sows by increasing their motivation to build the nest and reducing the stereotyped behaviours prior to farrowing. Moreover, access to straw reduces sow unrest during farrowing and stimulates the maternal behaviour of nursing. Fed Univ Grande Dourados, Coll Agr Sci, Dourados, MS, Brazil Univ Fed Mato Grosso do Sul, Dept Anim Sci, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil Univ Ctr Grande Dourados, Sch Vet Med, Dourados, MS, Brazil S ao Paulo State Univ, Sch Agr & Veterinarian Sci, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Coll Vet Med & Anim Sci, St Prof Doctor Walter Mauricio Correa W-N, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Rural Rio de Janeiro, Dept Anim Nutr & Pastures, Seropedica, RJ, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Coll Vet Med & Anim Sci, St Prof Doctor Walter Mauricio Correa W-N, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-04T12:14:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-10-01 A total of 172 pigs were randomly allocated to two stunning treatments: carbon dioxide (CO2) and electrical stunning at a commercial abattoir. The Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle was used to evaluate the effects of stunning methods on pork quality and financial losses of carcasses and viscera condemnation was also determined following by sanitary inspection. There was no effect due to stunning method on quality parameters (P > .137) of pH 24, drip or thaw loss, lipid oxidation, myofibrillar fragmentation index, shear force or PSE / DFD meat incidence. The LL muscle of the electrically stunned pigs had a higher L * value (P < .05), higher cooking loss (P < .001) and lower pH 45 (P < .05) compared to those stunned with CO2. CO2 stunned pigs had fewer carcasses condemned due to fractures / lesions (P < .05), hepatic and renal congestion (P < .05). CO2 stunning can be beneficial from an economic point of view because it has reduced losses through condemnation at the slaughterhouse. Fed Univ Grande Dourados, Coll Agr Sci, BR-79804970 Dourados, MS, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Vet Med & Anim Sci, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Fdn Univ Rio Grande Sul, BR-96203900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Vet Med & Anim Sci, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T15:28:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-12-01 Fundect Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Composite films based on Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer filled with Nickel oxide (NiO) nanosheets were prepared via the solution casting method. The effect of NiO filler introduction on the structure and morphology of the composite films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results showed that the crystallinity, beta-phase content and morphology are directly related to the NiO filler concentration into the polymer matrix owing to a heterogeneous nucleation. Electrical measurements revealed dielectric constants up to 45 at 1 kHz and an increasing in conductivity more than two orders of magnitude, with a percolation threshold of about 4.0% v/v of NiO filler content. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved. Fed Univ Grande Dourados, GOA, Appl Opt Grp, Dourados, MS, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Chem, LIEC Dept Chem Techonol, Interdisciplinary Lab Electrochem & Ceram, Araraquara, SP, Brazil Univ Grande Dourados, Lab Organ Catalysis & Biocatalysis, Dourados, MS, Brazil Univ Estadual Maringa, Mat Chem & Sensors Lab LMSen, Maringa, Parana, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Chem, LIEC Dept Chem Techonol, Interdisciplinary Lab Electrochem & Ceram, Araraquara, SP, Brazil Fundect: 15743.291.3846.25112009 FAPESP: 13/14647-6 FAPESP: 2012/11979-5 FAPESP: 2013/07296-2 CNPq: 310820/2011-1 CNPq: 2008232/2014-1 CNPq: 483683/2010-8